This is Leonid Kuchuk's first season in charge after taking over from Slaven Bilić, who was sacked at the end of the previous season following Lokomotiv's worst ever performance in the Russian Premier League since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Indeed, Lokomotiv's poor performance last season has left the club without European football this season and therefore the only cup that Lokomotiv participates in is the Russian Cup.

Lokomotiv's players who were not on duty with their respective national teams called for pre-season medical examinations on Friday 14 June 2013. The others undertook their medical examinations the week after and by 22 June all the players had passed their medical examinations.

On 24 June 2013, the squad, under the guidance of Leonid Kuchuk, flew to Slovenia for the annual pre-season training camp and played a series of friendlies with various clubs.

One-month vacations after first half of the season ended on 9 January 2014. Players passed medicals and the next day flew to their first winter camp in Portugal. After two weeks of work and two friendlies the team returned to Moscow. The second winter camp, featuring three friendlies, started in Spain on 27 January, and the third camp with five control matches – also in Spain, from 14 February.

Source: Russian Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) number of wins; 3) head-to-head points; 4) number of head-to-head wins; 5) head-to-head goal difference; 6) number of head-to-head goals scored; 7) number of head-to-head away goals scored; 8) goal difference; 9) number of goals scored; 10) number of away goals scored; 11) position in the 2012–13 season (only used until all the regularly scheduled games have been played); 11) extra play-off game or tournament between the teams in question1 Rostov have won the 2013–14 Russian Cup, therefore qualified for the play-off round of the 2014–15 UEFA Europa League. However, it did not pass the Russian Football Union European licensing and its spot was given to Spartak. That RFU decision was overturned by the CAS and Rostov was returned to the Europa League.(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.

After the end of 2013–14 season, the club organized a new poll among Loko fans in the social networks to name the best player of the season. The award went to Aleksandr Samedov (32.3 percent of votes), Vedran Ćorluka (21.1) came second, and Vitaliy Denisov (12.5) third.[60]

After victory over Kuban Krasnodar on 2 December 2013, Lokomotiv became leader of Premier League for the first time in more than seven years; last time the team led the League in October 2006 after 22 matchdays under guidance of Slavoljub Muslin.[63]